Parks in Salt Lake City, UT

A trip to Salt Lake City would not be complete without taking some time to enjoy the temperate climate and scenic beauty of Salt Lake City's great outdoors. This area is known for some of the most breathtakingly stunning landscapes in the world, making it the perfect spot for sightseeing and outdoor recreation.

The Dead Horse State Park is one of the most photographed landscapes in the world and sits 235 miles south of Salt Lake City near Moab. The drive will take a few hours, but you will be well rewarded for the effort. With its beautifully colored landscapes accented with mesas and plateaus, you will be transported back to the days when cowboys rounded up wild mustangs in this expansive wilderness. When you travel to this park, be sure to bring plenty of water, because water on-site is not available.

Closer to Salt Lake City, spend some time outdoors at the Dog Lake Trail. This trail is actually an expansive system of several trails that winds through the Cottonwood Canyon, the Mill Creek Canyon, and Dog Lake. Hikers frequent the trails with their dogs, which is where the trail system got its name. The area is also popular for horseback riding and biking.

In nearby Ogden, you will find the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park. Here, you can spend hours exploring dinosaur exhibits featuring real skeletons as well as robotic recreations of Triceratops, Parasaurolophus, Tyrannosaurus, and Ceratosaurus. Before you head back home, you can buy some dinosaur-themed gifts as the gift shop or enjoy a meal at the casual dining restaurant on-site.

In the heart of the city, you can find the perfect spot for kicking back and relaxing at Granger Park. Granger Park offers you a quiet, natural setting for picnics and enjoying nature. The park is also used by the community for special events throughout the year such as the Annual Native American Association Festival and Contest Pow Wow, with cultural food, arts and crafts, dancing, music, and more.

Liberty Park is the perfect destination for a family outing. This park boasts a beautiful Children's Garden, a boating pond, a playground, amusement park-style rides, lighted tennis courts, a jogging trail, a swimming pool, and a snack bar. You can also spend time exploring the Tracy Aviary or touring the historic Chase House on-site. Liberty Park hosts special events throughout the year such as the Days of '47, the Utah Arts Festival, and the Native American Celebration.

If you're up for an adventure, the Great Western Trail is the place to go. This trail system spans 4,455 miles and stretches through 18 national forest, Native American lands, state parks, and four US states. The landscapes change greatly over the length of the trail system, with everything from isolated desert region to mountainous and heavily forested areas. The trails are ideal for hiking, and primitive camping is permitted in some areas as well.

Take a break from the attractions, landmarks, and historical sites on your trip to Salt Lake City with some time in the area's many parks.